Borismitnik

Matching the Chicago Bulls offer to J.J. Redick will cost the Orlando Magic now, but may prove to be a bargain for Otis Smith in the long term.

And the hits just keep happening. As if the Heat signing the Three Mercenaries wasn’t enough, the Chicago Bulls, according to various reports, extended a front-loaded three-year, million offer sheet to shooting guard J.J Redick on Friday.

Yikes.

At more than million a year, that was likely way more than the Magic could have expected Redick to receive. The Bulls are desperate for shooting, and apparently signed Kyle Korver, too.

Now what, Orlando?

The Magic can match any offer for Redick, a restricted free agent, and have seven days to do so. The offer apparently is front-loaded, a tactic teams use to discourage the home team from matching.

Well, if the Magic say they want to win a title, it’s an easy answer: Yes, especially on a team that is built on shooters and has 33-year-old Vince Carter heading into the final year (.3 million) of his contract.

In fact, this is likely what GM Otis Smith has to decide: Can J.J. Redick be your starting shooting guard of the future? If so, even at that price, he’s a bargain.

But with a bloating payroll and luxury-tax concerns, the Magic might need to make a trade to seek relief, taking back an expiring contract. They might have to perhaps deal Marcin Gortat and his remaining five years and million. They can pick up a veteran center to play 10 minutes as Gortat has done, although as the Heat are learning, the big-man pickings are slim.

UPDATE: OTIS SMITH ANTICIPATES MATCHING BULLS OFFER TO J.J. REDICK

Or there’s always the three years and mil left on power forward Brandon Bass’ deal. Or the Magic can simply wait for the team option to kick in on Carter’s contract, which would come off the books at season’s end (Vince has an million team option next year that the Magic will not pick up).

There are more free-agent shooting guards available for a cheaper price, but the ever-improving Redick fits in Stan Van Gundy’s system playing off Dwight Howard.

Many feel the Magic have lost ground after LeBron joined D-Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. Losing Redick would only accelerate the retreat.